There’s a certain genre of virtual reality game that largely amounts to more than an escape room, emerging in the mid-2010s and continuing to evolve since. One of the staples in this genre has been the I Expect You To Die series, which puts players in the role of a secret agent named Phoenix as they work with the Agency to stop the latest threat in the world.
The latest villain in the series comes from the inside, with the organization forced to reckon with those it uses to achieve its goals. Whereas previous escape room games in VR seem to rely on fairly simplistic mechanics, visuals, and narrative, I Expect You To Die 3: A Cog in the Machine successfully evolves on the scale and detailed world of the series, creating something that was genuinely surprising at times.
While the game in question is not without flaws, exhibiting several issues that echo problems found in other console titles from years past, it compensates with its engaging humor and intricate puzzles. Those willing to put up with the lack of meaningful checkpoints and the difficulty in interacting with some objects will love this espionage VR title as much as the two that came before it.
From inside the Agency
Following the events of I Expect You To Die 2, Agent Phoenix once again finds themself in a new field office on the trail of a missing member of the Agency, Dr. Prism. She is the former Telekinesis Specialist for the organization and has recently decided to focus more on using robots to replace the weak and emotional agents.
She’s revealed to be the bad guy at the start of the game before she’s introduced due to one of the most impressive cinematics in a VR game I’ve ever seen. It reminded me of an old James Bond intro sequence, with everything moving in slow motion as a smooth track played in the background that was heavily intertwined with the game’s story.
As with previous games, each new scenario will see Agent Phoenix try to solve their way out of a puzzle that may or may not be trying to kill them. It’s a great premise that doesn’t seem all that changed this time around, but at least the levels seem much larger, with the world feeling detailed and like it goes on beyond the player’s vision, which is rare.
As with previous entries, the voice acting is great and helps the player to feel like they are part of the world. However, when having to repeat the same level, the dialogue can get backed up as you power through multiple steps, which can leave it lagging behind by the time you need a new step. The soundtrack is great for the espionage theme, kicking in when you gain control during a car chase or other opportune moments.
Telekinesis should not make things harder
The current test of VR tech right now is how it deals with the boundaries where the virtual and the real-world meet, with I Expect You To Die 3 using the previous series’ Telekinesis to increase reach while the player remains seated. While this makes for a more comfortable experience, I often found it limited the game in ways that seemed unintended, like objects not turning properly or cluttering up what little space I had.
There were also issues where I was interacting with objects in one hand and trying to lift a lid or switch to the other hand and the game would not cooperate. This often led to frustration and even caused me to die once or twice when I accidentally dropped something I was using to block myself from a laser. However, when you are able to get an item or other interactable to work, it feels really cool.
The puzzles themselves are pretty interesting and border on challenging unless you closely study your environment early in the level. Unfortunately, one of the worst parts of the game is there is no real checkpoint, so anytime you die you have to start from the beginning. This feels unnecessarily long and like it’s extending the gameplay at the cost of the player’s sanity.
It’s unfortunate when the title ends up being more frustrating than it is enjoyable, with the character interactions and new mechanics introduced being the highlight. That being said, those easily frustrated by objects that are hard to control and the inability to complete missions without repeating every step should probably try something a little more relaxing.
The Final Word
While I Expect You To Die 3: A Cog in the Machine has a series of games to pull from, it does manage to shine on its own in key moments. However, these are also held back by some limiting gameplay choices and a system for handling objects that’s infuriating and fun. While it won’t be remembered for being a walk in the park, Schell Games has managed to capture the magic of the espionage parody with a good enough story.
Try Hard Guides was provided with a Meta Quest 2 review copy of this game. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles in the Game Reviews section of our website!
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